February 3, 2020

Math 6 Enhanced: Acceleration to Algebra I

District Goal: Short-term District Goal: In August 2020, Fulton County Schools will provide the best opportunity for Grade 6 students to begin a path of study in mathematics to prepare them to complete Algebra I in Grade 8 in 2022-2023.

Long-term District Goal: In August 2020, all Kindergarten students will begin a path of study in mathematics to prepare them to complete Algebra I in Grade 8 in 2028-2029.

Accelerating to Algebra

• Why consider taking Algebra I in Grade 8?

• What is Math 6 Enhanced?

• What should I consider in determining if Math 6 Enhanced is right for my child?

• What supports will be in place for students who take Math 6 Enhanced?

• What math options exist in Fulton County Schools for middle and high school students?

Agenda

Why consider taking Algebra I in Grade 8?

• Algebra II concepts are assessed on the SAT and ACT. Students who take Algebra I in Grade 8 will have completed Algebra II by the time they take the SAT or ACT during the Junior year.

• 83% of students who had taken a high-school level calculus course graduated from college within eight years, compared to 75% of those who had maxed out at precalculus, 60% at trigonometry, and 40% at Algebra 2. (Adelman, 2006)

• A (2011) meta-analysis of research Algebra I for all in Grade 8 found achievement gains for students taking algebra earlier rather than later, with the caveat that “achievement gains occurred in settings where policies were accompanied by strong supports for struggling students, particularly more time for algebra instruction. We do not have strong evidence that universal algebra policies lead to achievement gains minus those strong supports.” (Stein et al., 2011)

What is Math 6 Enhanced?

GaDOE Accelerated MS CurriculumRationale Timeline & Content Student & Teacher Supports

The Georgia Department of Education provides a curriculum map and course overview for teaching 6.1, 6.2, and 7.1 in Grade 6 and 7.2, 8.1, and 8.2 in Grade 7.

2020-2021: Grade 6: Math 6 Enhanced (6.1, 6.2, 7.1)

2021-2022: Grade 7: Math 7 Enhanced (7.2, 8.1, 8.2)

2022-2023: Algebra I in Grade 8

Parents/Students may choose this course.

Required Support Course for Students < Level 3 on Georgia Milestones

i-Ready for additional time on targeted skills

District-led Professional Learning for Teachers

What should I consider in determining if Math 6 Enhanced is right for my child?

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Clarification of the parent Letter-NA

Math Profile Card- NA

Clarification on the FAQ- CH- Front Part

• Students who choose to take Math 6 Enhanced and have scored a Level 1 or 2 on a past Georgia Milestones Assessment for Math will automatically be placed in Math 6 Connections Enrichment.

• The Math 6 Connections Enrichment course will provide engaging STEM based opportunities to preview and reinforce content provided in the Math 6 Enhanced course.

• The Georgia Tech Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing AMP IT UP modules will be used in the course.

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What supports will be in place for students who take Math 6 Enhanced?

6th Grade Math Enhanced

Scored a 1 or 2Math 6th

Connections Enrichment

= NO Fine Arts

Sample AMP IT UP Module

Whale Challenge: Data Saved the Whales

Students model plankton and temperature data collected at different ocean depths in the Antarctic to determine whether a research vessel will collide with whales. They construct coordinate graphs of the data to identify whether the data is linear or non-linear, discern whether a variable is independent or dependent in the relationship, and reason quantitatively about the data relationships.

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What supports will be in place for students who take Math 6 Enhanced?

• All students will use i-Ready, an adaptive mathematics software, to refresh essential elementary math skills and receive additional practice on Math 6 Enhanced skills throughout the school year.

• i-Ready is available to all students in June 2020.

• Students who choose to take Math 6 Enhanced will automatically be enrolled in Fulton’s first Summer Math Challenge from May 11-June 30, 2020.

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What supports will be in place for students who take Math 6 Enhanced?

What math options exist in Fulton County Schools for middle and high school students?

For your consideration

• Please take the following into consideration:

– Your student’s academic (specifically math) motivation

– Your student's academic potential in math

– Your student’s areas of interests/passions

– Your student’s commitments/interests outside of school

– Your student’s overall stress level

– Your student’s pace and focus

• Number of teachers and courses each day

• Increased organizational skills and independence needed

• Locker responsibilities

• Change of building and procedures

Changes as a 6th grader

Thank You!